Re: Serial IR receiver problem

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

> It's an USB device and after I installed it my IR receiver works very
> poorly. It seems that the signal received is very inconsistent. I've

Let me start out by saying I have no direct experience with Skype.  I'm
assuming you have an interference problem, and it's probably stray IR light.
Do you have a electronic camera?  First thing to do is to darken the room or
wait until nighttime and check the IR again.  Is it better in the dark?  If
not, look around the room through the electronic viewfinder.  If anything's
continuously emitting IR, it will be flashing bright blue.  Use a handheld
remote aimed at the camera to be certain it's IR sensitive.

Although, again, I am unfamiliar with their equipment, the symptoms you
describe sound like the Skype unit may be emitting IR that's "stepping on"
the IR signals.  Are there any dark red plastic windows on the device
anywhere?  I get the same sort of "1 in 20" response when one of my
powermids is getting direct sunlight and/or IR from somewhere.  When the IR
receiver powermid sees stray light, it then relays that "light noise" to the
powermid facing the equipment stack and it really reduces the range and
effectiveness of the local remote control.  I can get the local remote to
work, but only once in 10 tries or by getting right up on the receiver.
Does your remote work if you hold it right up against the IR receiver?  The
stray light problem can be severe.  It's why I have all my powermids on
appliance modules, so that I can switch them off when I am in the
"equipment" room operating the AV stuff locally and not via powermid.

Get a black plastic garbage back and first cover the Skype completely with
it still on.  Any better?  If not, put your remote and your receiver in the
bag and try them.  If the reception is noticeably better, you've got stray
IR exiting from somewhere.

You can try the same two tests with aluminum foil or a metal trashbasket big
enough to shield the Skype unit and then your remote and receiver, in turn
to check for radio interference but it sounds like you've tried that step.

--
Bobby G.


<mrman_man@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1180175120.239232.39600@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hello all
>
> I have a strange problem. I use a home built serial IR receiver
> attached to the com-port of my computer. I use Winlirc and Girder to
> perform different tasks from my remote control. It has worked very
> well for many years now.
>
> The other day I installed a Skype adapter, AU-600. I trhink this
> device works more or less as a modem with voice capablities. It
> enables me to use my regular phone with Skype, making and receiving
> calls.
>
> It's an USB device and after I installed it my IR receiver works very
> poorly. It seems that the signal received is very inconsistent. I've
> tried to re-learn some remote codes, but Winlirc reports inconsistent
> signal. When I pull the plug on the skype adapter, evereything is back
> to normal.
>
> Does anyone has any ideas what can cause this? I've tried to use
> different USB ports on the computer, different USB cables but no
> change. I tried to change the IRQ channel of the com port, but that
> didn't have any effect.
>
> Please help!
>
> Kind regards
> /Erik
>